a blended life

This was a long week, but nobody's in the hospital and the car is still running, so we won't complain (right, Brian?). Besides, tickets for Billy Joel and Elton John go on sale tomorrow-rejoice! Brian took on the roll of Mr Mom for a few days this week so I could get school stuff done. He's feeling quite domestically proud of himself. I came home a few nights to the dishwasher and dryer running, plus kids fed (frozen pizza). We'll just call him Murray Poppins. Hannah drooled a perfect H on her white shirt. It's on the same level of coolness as a lightning bolt scar. What was her mom thinking, feeding her chocolate? I took this picture while driving and someone was honking behind me. I just couldn't pass up getting a shot of the winter not-so-wonderland we are living in right now. We've been dumped on...just another reminder of why Logan has never been a favorite place for me. I've seen some people pull out Christmas stuff as a joke, but general consens...

The two best rock pianists are coming to Salt Lake this year....I HAVE to be there!!! I've been to some great concerts-Simon and Garfunkel, REM, Sting. I am absolutely going to be there, even if I have to drag Brian to Las Vegas to see it. And while we're there, why don't we go to Cirque du Soleil?

Since when does a 2 and 4 year like XBox? Is this normal? So....Brian got an XBox for his birthday. Here's the order of who's been playing it the most: 1)me 2)Leah 3)Brian 4)my friend Emma 5)Hannah Leah has decided that she loves Indiana Jones -actually, she loves Marion- so she makes us play it everyday. She only wants to play one specific part of the game, and throws the controller if it doesn't go her way. She has no idea that the game has a point. It takes a great deal of patience to go through this ritual everyday. Anyway, playing XBox has taught her a new set of skills but I don't think that's any justification for playing excessive amounts of video games.

I couldn't help myself.

It's okay, we can laugh about this one. I'm more concerned about the bags under my eyes than the dopey expression on my face, and don't you think Simon and Garfunkel add a nice touch? It was a really nice day and the girls begged to go to the playground. I wish I could say that it was more fun, but....it's still pretty soggy out there. Hannah was soaked from the knee down-did I mention yet that she cried ALL DAY? Don't let the glasses fool you. She's a turkey in disguise. I tried to get them to play catch with a basketball. It worked for a few seconds, until Leah decided the ball was her own and not to be shared. End of catch. Leah could't make it down the twisty slide because it was damp, so she had to push herself down. So why was it still a big flying fight to get them to leave the half snow covered park? I wish I knew. Leah also had kindergarten registration today. She failed the screening test and was 'recommended' for Kindergarten Club which go...

We had the best trip! We knew a few months ago that we wanted to take a small anniversary trip, but we almost never agree on where (mostly because I like to default to Las Vegas). We ended up in Moab, UT--a place neither of us had been. The plan was to visit Arches National Park and get away from adorable but taxing children. Our first day was spent at Arches, taking little walks/hikes around some of the huge and totally cool rock and arch formations. This is Balanced Rock: A few pictures at the Windows Section: When we dropped off the girls at my parents, mom had a little belated birthday celebration for Brian. He enjoyed his cupcake later in the hotel. Hannah even sang Happy Birthday to Daddy all by herself, complete with simulating blowing out candles at the end. It was so precious! The cupcakes were really good, and so was the leftover cheesecake she sent with us. The next day we visited a state park called Dead Horse Point. We were the only people there, and I think I speak for ...

If you've been reading this blog you know that everything we own has broken down in the past two months. Some of it is a result of two little monkeys that we have living with us. For example, the F on the keyboard was smashed off by Leah in one of her rages, and the movie Elmo Has Two Ears was broken in half by Hannah, who was trying to put it in the DVD player herself. Anyway, over the weekend our sliding door on the van got jammed shut. We were loading the monkeys in and out of the car via the trunk-as if we didn't feel white trashy enough. For some odd reason, the door started working again yesterday at the Walker's house (if they were watching out the window, it might have looked a little strange to see me opening and closing the door over and over with glee). Another happy moment-the camera started working! I'll admit that broken items that start working again is a little bit out of a bad horror flick, but I can't complain. Especially about my beloved camera. H...

We've had a big week, starting Sunday with Brian's birthday. We had the Walker's and the Byrd's (a family in our neighborhood) over for some too much chocolate cake and ice cream. I thought it was a pretty good time! So did Brian. Yesterday was our anniversary, so we went out to lunch for a plate of garlic flavored grease before Brian had to work. Unfortunately, my camera broke this weekend so I have no pictures!!! I've never had this problem. Do people just buy a new camera? I'm really sad. :( We are headed off tomorrow on our little 'vacation' minus children! I'm ready. There won't be any blogging until we get back....and I'd better figure out a camera substitute.

I'd like to make an important announcement-our VAN IS RUNNING. And it only took a year, several headaches, lots of tears, some 'discussions' with Brian. But hey, now we can leave Cache Valley! I told mom yesterday that if this failed too, we would build a handcart and walk out of here...but I realized this morning that I've lived in Utah long enough to make a stupid pioneer joke. *sigh* I would like to take it on a test drive to Ikea (or is it IKEA?). A few other nonessentials: *The camera broke. I put in some batteries, it started fizzling and blinking, then sputtered, then went black. *sniffling* Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but in the past two months we've had the following busted products to try to replace: crockpot, toaster, blender, vaccuum, and of course car. And now camera, which is one of my cherished possessions. *Brian and I are dropping off kids at Grandma, Grandpa, Jacob and Karina Day's house next week so we can go to Arches National Park . We ...

Sooo...we're glad February is behind us. Here's a few highlights of how our month went: 1)Brian's LSAT disappointment. Does this need anymore explanation? 2)Car trouble. In case you didn't know, we are driving the same van that my parents got when I was in high school. After a week and a half in the shop, we were told that it needed a transmission and that would be $1200, please. Everyday I recite this mantra "I grateful for a car, I'm grateful for a car." On the plus side, it has been the source of a lot of jokes. Jen's new nickname for it: the Shortbus. 3) Skip. This is a guy that Brian went to high school and church with and came to visit us after our wedding. He got us a ice cream maker. He was just arrested for murdering his parents. When I met him, he was working at Wells Fargo. When he killed his mom and dad, he was a professional gambler. How does that happen in a few years? As my brother would say, "Judas." 4) School. That's all ...